Andrew Shin, Ph.D., awarded grant to investigate how BCAAs may influence sugar cravings and overconsumption
Andrew Shin, a professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Texas Tech University, has been awarded a grant from the American Heart Association. The grant will fund research into how specific dietary amino acids, called branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), may influence eating habits and contribute to obesity.
BCAAs are found in protein-rich foods and dietary supplements. Shin's research will examine whether BCAAs play a role in increasing cravings for sugary, high-calorie foods.
"We were looking for funding agencies that are interested in supporting our fresh study testing a novel concept and we came across a few grant opportunities offered from the American Heart Association,” Shin said.
Shin explained that the AHA's mission aligns with his research goals.
“The mission of the AHA is to promote research for a world of longer and healthier lives, and to do so, it was seeking cutting-edge research broadly aimed at cardiovascular diseases and brain health," Shin said. "We thought that our proposed research on obesity is well suited for the scope of the AHA funding since obesity is one of the major risk factors for heart and brain health."
Shin's team will investigate the mechanisms by which BCAAs may affect the brain's reward system, potentially increasing a preference for sweet foods. Preliminary findings in mice have shown that exposure to BCAAs increased their intake of sugar solutions.
Shin's Ph.D. student, Fereshteh Dehghani, played a key role in developing the research project. He credits Dehghani with proposing the innovative idea of exploring how BCAAs might alter the brain's reward processing, potentially contributing to obesity.
"It is a very novel idea which, if tested and confirmed, can revolutionize the way we develop and recommend dietary and pharmacological approaches to individuals susceptible to obesity," Shin said.
Shin hopes their research will lead to improvements in public health recommendations and dietary guidelines. By exploring how specific dietary components influence food cravings and metabolic health, his findings could help healthcare professionals, athletes, and the general public, make better-informed decisions about their diets and supplements. The study also highlights the potential risks of high-protein diets and supplements, offering a new perspective on addressing obesity and related health challenges.